Lord Longbourn had to turn his head to hide his amusement in clearing his throat. Who but his daughters would wrap the Royal court around their fingers with innate sweetness and mettle that men could not gather in weeks of preparation?
After sherry and port were imbibed, the receiving line was formed outside of the enormous ballroom to greet the invited guests who would pass through the royal guard and royal secretaries posted to ensure only invited guests entered. Prince Edward was at the head of the line, next was Princess Elizabeth, followed by the rest in order of precedence. Lizzy, always a keen observer of the character, traits, and foibles of others, was well impressed by the manner in which the Prince and Princess dealt with those who fawned over them.
When the Queen signalled him, the Lord Chamberlain introduced the soon to be wedded couples then signalled for the start of the first dance. The message sent when the brides started the set with the Regent and his brother was unmistakable and guaranteed that connections to the Bennets and their family would become one of the most sought after for theTon. They would all soon learn that their efforts would be rejected as the only connections accepted were those they deemed genuine with good character and intentions.
Lizzy had enjoyed dancing with the rotund Regent and his brother Prince Edward when they had exchanged partners after some minutes. She was very happy when the Princes were replaced by her beloved William for the remainder of the set.
“If I remember,” William teased when he had collected his beloved from the Regent, “you require conversation while dancing. Did not a woman with very fine eyes once tell me that she could not go a half hour complete without speaking?” He caused her to laugh and in the winning of it felt like the most important person in the room.
“Silly man,” she smiled up at him. “You must know that I was trying to provoke you. At the time I felt that you hated talking to me, let alone actually wanted to dance with me, so I tried to push you to do that which I believed would be most irksome to you.”
“There is naught that you can ever do to irk me, my love,” he murmured as he stared down into her eyes. “If I were to admit the whole truth, I found your impertinence charming. While my head was then trying to fight against my heart, I felt my attraction and love for you growing every time I saw you, even if it was just in my dreams.” He watched her reaction to his admission, her blush pleasing him before he had to let her go.
“You know that you are the best of men William, do you not?” she asked with an arched eyebrow as they came back together.
“Only because you made me want to be a better man my love,” he answered with passion shining from his cerulean eyes.
The rest of the dance was passed in contented and loving silence, neither feeling the need to fill it as many do when they are nervous or are not as in tune with their hearts.
All three Bennet sisters, although one had resigned the name Bennet in favour of Fitzwilliam, found their dance card filled within minutes of the receiving line being over.
Thankfully for a husband and two fiancées, they had bespoken the three most important sets from his respective lady. Each lady was engaged to dance a set with her sister’s betrothed filling up two more spots on their cards before any others could intercede. The Duke had reserved a set with their Mary, and Lord Matlock and Andrew had requested sets with Lizzy and Jane. As Andrew had also reserved a set with Mary, seven sets were already filled leaving few for any lecherous men of theTonto claim.
Any man with dishonourable inclinations was now well aware that these ladies were truly off limits unless one wanted to literally lose their heads in an attempt to make one of the sisters forget hers.
Before the meal, the Queen and the Regent individually summoned each of the brides for a conversation the Queen herself led. She asked the questions and her son welcomed both ladies as cousins to the family and reminded them that connection now extended to the rest of the Bennets. The Queen requested that the sisters perform for her during the upcoming season as she had enjoyed the performance at Buckingham House exceedingly. It was not missed that so many of the royal family were still present and theTonwas now staring at the Bennets in awe. It was rare for members of the royal family to remain at a ball, and almost unheard of that they would individually request conversations from specific members at a function so clearly just for the pleasure of conversation and embracing a familial tie.
Sir William Lucas was in his element. He had been to St James for his very brief investiture when he had received his knighthood, but here he was again, this time with his family at a ball sponsored by the Queen with the Regent and some of the Princes and Princesses in attendance. He knew enough protocol not to approach the royals, but it did not stop him basking in the glory of being so near to them, or as near as he was allowed to get. The ball and the wedding in two days would be fodder for stories that the citizens of Meryton and the surrounding area would be regaled with for a long time to come and would start with the ladies from Meryton present that had witnessed it all from different angles and always saw something slightly more astonishing than previously described.
After dancing the supper set, the Bennets and their party were placed at a table close to, or in Mary’s case with, the royals. Unlike the average ball, there was an army of footmen and pages that served the food and drink to all spanning from the royals outward. As per protocol, none ate before both the Queen and the Regent had taken a nibble of their food. The meal would end when the royals were done, though it was observed that they did not stand to end the meal until they had been informed that their guests had concluded their meals. They had not wanted to force the guests to stop enjoying the prepared feast early.
At the summation of supper, the Regent offered a toast to the two couples and officially welcomed the brides, the rest of the Bennets, and Darcy as cousins. Most of the royal family then departed, leaving Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth and spouses to represent the family.
After supper, Mary danced with her soon to be father-in-law while Lizzy danced with Lord Matlock. “Rose and I could not be more pleased with Hugh’s choice of bride, Mary. I very much look forward to gaining you as my third daughter.” The Duke of Bedford looked at Mary with warmth.
“Thank you, your Grace,” Mary answered, a faint pink blush on her cheeks as she still had not reconciled to all the compliments that she received.
“You know that in two days’ time there will be no more ‘your Grace’ or any other honorific besides Father and Mother!” He raised a brow then let her hand go as the dance required.
“I will bear that in mind, your Grace,” Mary replied smoothly as they came back together.
“I would do more than keep that in mind, Lady Mary. I prefer not to have a wife that is sad her daughter refuses to be her daughter. Then I would have to be stern with Hugh and he would try to act like he is in charge and I would rather not have to place gongs and footmen at every door,” he teased, chuckling when Mary’s laugh filled the area around them while she circled him and then returned to her position facing him.
“A single man carrying a gong following us on each floor should do just fine, My Lord,” she said arching an eyebrow reminiscent of Elizabeth. The Duke put his head back and loosed a deep rumbling guffaw, his laugh shocking so many, a fan dropped nearby.
“You know that you are the best thing that ever happened to William, Lizzy, and that was before you accepted him,” Lord Matlock stated quietly as he guided his soon to be niece through the dance.
“Thank you, Uncle Reggie, though I am not sure I understand your meaning,” she said while she waited, having belatedly learned the lesson about conclusions far more painfully than one would prefer.
“Before Hunsford…” they were separated by the dance, and when they came back together, he proceeded, “William was becoming like my sister, in behaviour not character, thank God. It took the shock of your refusal and upbraiding to jolt him enough to be introspective, to take stock of his life and the direction that it was taking.”
They went down the line so conversation ceased until the Earl took her hand again. “I do understand why he developed his mask and wanted to be repugnant to most. From the time he entered society he had been an object…” a few figures were performed with others, “…of fortune hunters and it was a barrier to keep himself safe from the machinations of those stalking him. Unfortunately, it became part of him, until you shattered that persona.”
“I was angry with him at the time, though some of that was misplaced and I have apologised to him. I did not care who he thought he was, what his position made him think he was. I hate hypocrisy and his behaviour was unacceptable. That man is gone; I could never have fallen in love with him if he was still as he was. This man, the real William, is the best of men,” Elizabeth stated brooking no opposition.
Lord Matlock chuckled as he could not but agree, arching a brow when the Duke broke out in laughter and Lizzy fell into a melodious laugh as she saw her sister staring at him with playful challenge in her eyes.
While her daughter danced with her uncle Fitzwilliam, Lady Longbourn danced with his nephew. Darcy had not imagined this moment and it surprised him that when he requested her hand for the set, he was not doing a duty, he was looking forward to the pleasure of her company.
